For those not to choose building a pit & still DIY own repair work…this may be of interest.

Have two choices of plans. Plan 1 is moveable six feet long ramp for a pair wheel lift to craw under…weight about 50 lbs each.Note: First 3 attachment apply to this plan.Purchase the following;1) 8pcs 2x12x8 feet long…. If you prefer wider than 12 inch, just add more planks2) 4pcs or more for than 8 planks ½ x 48 inch of NC treaded rods. 40pcs of nuts & flat washersDirection;1) Cut treaded rod into 14 ½ inch long or longer for added planks to attain 20pcs2) Debur rod’s ends3) Cut diagonal as per-drawing4) Drill all but one holes 3 inch away from outline of cut pieces.5) Drill last hole centrally…about 2 inch from top & bottom line near beginning leading edge.

It will give you 11 ½ inch added clearance while air up with safely clearance incase air bag blow.

Reason for planks standing on sides to avoid cracking while uneven earth surface from weight of coach.

This is what charter bus garage in Detroit metro area using and already 10 years old.

Not shown stop block at end of top flat to keep from rolling off….2x2 attach via long screw from top down.

If your coach clearance is too low to clear to drive on……drive over spare planks before ramps.

Cautions…have someone guide you on to avoid unnecessary damage.

Plan 2 for long pit on concrete surface;Note: 4th attachment apply to this plan.

Where I brought my MCI-8 at DOM Charter in Detroit, Mi. Have a pair of 12 laminated (no glue) 2x12 planks on side that come to total of 18 inch wide lay on concrete floor. They bolted together with stop block at end.

Bolts are located so it 3” from top & bottom about every 3 ft apart using NC ½” threaded rods with large flat washers.

Eight ft or less of taper laminated ramp of same to get on. All main ramps’ planks are stagger to strengthen. Ramps are set apart so that front wheel travels in middle with inter dual partly on. It too heavy to move by hand. Another word it won’t slide or shift out of gage easily. This is design for 258” MCI -7,8,9 wheelbase with 8” ground clearance.

It you need more than 11 ½ inch plus bus’s clearance, and then nail each layer to 4 pieces high of ¾” plywood at each wheel’s footing. First one made 6” longer (3” overlap each end) x same width than the next pieces to develop a stepping slope for drive wheel. Front wheel’s plywood is 3” longer then next piece with stop attached on even end.

Caution…this arrangement should only be onto concrete surface or otherwise ramps can roll or flip sideway on dirt ground. Also you should have a person guide you on correctly. If in shop…check to see if bus will clear over head while driving on raise ramps.

I made some ramps similar to these, only they are only 8" tall. Its enough to get under to do what I need to, and if the bags were to fail and go down to the stops, I would still have enough room to not get hurt and to get out. If they were any higher I couldn't put them under the bus to run up on them.

When I drive on to the ramps, I first put them in front of the tires, then I measure how far I want the bus to move. Next I put my step ladder exactly that far from the front bumper. when I drive up, I just go till I touch the ladder, and I know I'm in a good spot. Even a 2" x2" is not big enough to either stop the bus or even notice as it runs off the end. I'm not sure a 4 x 4 would be big enough either, but it would prevent you from skidding the ramps under the bus bus prior to driving on them. The bus tires are large enough they can roll over a lot without noticing.

« Last Edit: May 13, 2006, 08:12:07 AM by H3Jim »

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Jim StewartEl Cajon, Ca. (San Diego area)

Travel is more than the seeing of sights, it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.

However if all possible have someone monitor closely to tell driver when to stop.

If you have an old large mirror to stand on ground or floor at an angle so driver can see 45 degree of horizonal viewing of left front wheel & ramp position...that would give you both view...guide & stop at same time.

Higher stop-block can be add but ramp should be longer for body to clear as it rise.

That long "pit" ramp plan has longer scope rise so that bottom coach will clear the hump. That done on cad for coach with 258" wb at 8" ground clearance.

Perhaps it's my frugal sensitivities but let me add my $0.02 worth. I've calculated (rightly or wrongly) that the ramps are 13" wide.I have no idea what the cross grain of a 2X12 will support, but having worked with my son in construction for a while... it's huge.

Since the bottom of the ramp is supported by a solid (be it earth or concrete) might it be practical to use a 2X12 spacer between thefull length boards at each threaded rod? The integrity of the ramp would be maintained but the whole thing would be much lighter.

If one were concerned about the strength or integrity of the assembly the use of the spacers would allow it to be built , perhaps one or two planks wider for better weight distribution. Wider would also be less probability of tipping should the driver stray a bit one way or the other.

Being an older guy weight and transport of these ramps would be among my concerns along with their load bearing ability. Adding a 4X4 at or near the end would certainly give me more peace of mind. The coach would balk at the attempt to override it.

These suggestions are offered in a constructive manner...certainly not offered to demean Sojourner's or anyone elses design."Inquiring minds want to know".

I actually did put spacers in to save wieght, and mine are 17" wide, still a little narrow, but I can get part of both tires of the dually's up there. And yes, having used treated lumber, these pups are HEAVY. All I can do is drag them, I can't even think about lifting them. Like Sojourner suggests, I used 1/2" threaded rod to clamp them together. My coach so far is 38,000 lbs, and there has been no hint of these things not holding the weight. MIne are about 6 ft long, and had I to do it over, I would make them a little shorter, and maybe a little wider as well.

I did not use the plywood for ramp starters / holders. I just angled the cut of the 2 by, the slope is gentle enough that it's never even thought of sliding. Those big tires again. Hell, sometimes its hard to tell I even went up the ramps, except for I'm close to my step ladder.

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Jim StewartEl Cajon, Ca. (San Diego area)

Travel is more than the seeing of sights, it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.

I have some scraps from the local log home place and some scrap peices of 2x12 to lead up onto them. The blocks fit together to make a large pad and the 2x12 fit under the lip to make it a stable ramp. it all pulls apart and stacks in the bay. The price was right and it is amazing how much room you have once you get past the outer part. I haven't used it on the front yet so no report there.

my $.02

ps. a local bus shop has large ones made from railroad ties bolted in a designated bay.

I, for one, would like to sse either a pic or drawing of your 'contraption'. I sort of like the idea of moving several light parts around and being able to stack 'em in a bay than to wrestle with a preassembled ramp that outweighs my wife...er me. Nells, Bells guys! I'm 70 years old and I don't have the body strength to wrestle alligators anymore!

Another $02 worth! I had a local saw mill cut some cotton wood into 3ea 12" X 12" x 10' pices. Had one of them cut diagoaily into giant wedge. Cost very little, strong as all get out but heavy. Have a friend watch while you drive on.JimH

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Started with nothing - still have most of it left!1963 Eagle 01 with Detroit 60 series done (Gone-sold!)MCI EL3 in progress. raised roof & Slides2009 Revolution 42 Sticks and stapleSummer - Yankton, South DakotaWinter- Sebastian, Florida

I have always found it very difficult to drive up on to ramps with a stick shift. Trying to get enough power to climb the ramp and then get on the brakes without going over can be tricky. Very hard to heel and toe in my 4104.

My bus still has the ICC valve which is what I use to control the brake when climbing the ramp. I think I am going to keep that setup even after converting to spring brakes for just that reason.

Len, I think there is a distinct possibility that the ICC valve circuitry and the spring brake circuitry are incompatible. The ICC circuit disables ALL of the rest of the air system when it is turned on; it was intended to give you a way to apply air to the rear axle if any air hose blew that wasn't in that circuit.

If a hose to the rear cans blew, you were left with your Johnson bar. On a long down grade, that would leave you with looking for a place to crash.

At least, that's my understanding of how all that works. Perhaps someone with more experience could clear this up a bit.

"An uneducated vote is a treasonous act more damaging than any treachery of the battlefield.The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." Plato “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”—Pla

Tom, Some of these guys are too young or were too protected in their younger lives to know what things like a Johnson bar or an ICC bumper are.

I've even seen a couple of old GMC buses that had had the brake handle removed and a new drivers floor put in so there is no sign of the former parking brake. (The brake was still back on the transmission though).

Oh, and not only are they worthless as an emergency brake.... They pretty much suck for parking on a grade too! Lol

I found some 4 x 12 and 4 x 8 block at a local consrtuction site that pretty much worked like newbeemc9 jons idea but a real pit would be nice as thos driver slack adjusters are still hard to reach laying on your back. Jerry

I appologize. I pondered that "Johnson bar" thing for a while. The circumstance in which it came up was one in which you were decending a grade and your brakes blew....hopeless. In the miletary your Johnson was slang for your male organ and to demonstrate desperation and futility it was said in that, whichever, circumstance, you were "left holding your Johnson". Seemed to fit. Sorry for the confusion and thanks for expanding my vacabulary..."handbrake" huh! Who knew?

Amused

John

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"An uneducated vote is a treasonous act more damaging than any treachery of the battlefield.The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." Plato “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”—Pla

I'm guessing the "Johnson Bar" was invented by a guy named Johnson and has come to mean any lever type bar used on busses and trains. I've heard that the brake lever on a train was also called the Johnson bar and has nothing to do with your Johnson.

Trucks have Johnson bards too, but as Dallas mentioned ya gotta be almost retired from Social Security to be familiar with them being called that! The brake lever under the steering wheel for the trailer brake is used to be called a Johnson bar/brake. I haven't got a clue as to what they teach the 14 day wonders (truck driving school grads) these days to call them! But I'm sure it's covered in the 14 days it takes them to take someone who kaint evun speil truk divre in to 1 , and gives them the equivalence of 5 yrs experience while doing so in 14 days! Aw shucks wish I could go to one dem places and get leerned howas ta drove a big truk lak Jimmybob did! FWIW BK

8 years IN the Air Force and 22 years working FOR the Navy as a civ. It was said of me that while ex AF, if you cut me I bled Navy gray. They meant it as a serious compliment. A chief once told an assembly of enlisted men that "out of respect, Mr. Grabe will no longer be refered to as a "Sand Crab"...is that clear? Hence forth he will be adressed as a Beach Creature." What a bunch of cards. Best years of my life and the best people it was ever my privelage to serve and serve with. Do I have stories!

John

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"An uneducated vote is a treasonous act more damaging than any treachery of the battlefield.The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." Plato “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”—Pla

I was stationed in Seal Beach CA. at the Naval Weapons Station. There were about 1500 "six legged, side walking, beach creatures" there!!! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL Back to the originally planned thread...................................... Chaz